Improvement in blasting-plugs



D. SHUEMAKER.

Blasting Plugs.v

Patented September 16, 1873.

[Il well [0r UNITED-v STATEs f TENT DEEIOE.

DAVID sHOEMAkEE,` OE kITTArmING TOWNSHIP, ARMSTRONG COUNTY, AssrGNOa OE ONE-HALE HIs EIGHT To G. A. EEIOHEHT, Jn., OE MANOR- VILLE, 4AND JOHN HORN EEIOHEET, OE PHILADELPHIA, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLASTING-PLUGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,948, dated September '16, 1873; application filed April 1s, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID SHOEMAKEE, o Kittanning township, in the county of Armstrong and State of Pennsylvania, have in- Vented a new and useful Tamping Apparatus for blasting purposes 5 and I do hereby declaro the following to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, sufcient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to full)r understand, make, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figures 1 and 3 are side elevations of the device illustrating my invention. Figs. 2 and 4, respectively, are longitudinal sections thereof. Fig. 5 is an end view. Fig. 6 is an end View opposite to that shown in Fig. 5. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are implements to be hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to the class of tamping-plugs which are adapted for repeated use. p

The improvements consist: First, in a iiexible casing of peculiar construction, adapted to be expanded within the blasting-hole; second, in a device for connecting and securing together tke core-block and casing, as hereinafter described; third, in the combination of a body ot' elastic packing material forming the upper portion of the plug, and a flexible casing surrounding the same, the whole being adapted to be expanded within the hole by mechanical means, as hereinafter described; fourth, in devices for introducing and expanding the plug.

Referring tothe drawings, A represents a cylindrical block, which is formed at one end with a contraction or neck which leaves a shoulder, B. C represents a roll or tube of leather orY other iiexible material, which is of proper length, and one end of it encircles the block A, and the edge of said end is bent over and laps the shoulder B. A sleeve, D, is slipped over and retains the tube on the block A, and one end of the sleeve is turned in or flanged, so as to come against and press `thc bent edge of the tube C, and hold it rmly against the block A. Screws a a pass through the sleeve and tube into the block A for conningA the sleeve in place. E represents a spring or springs, which are coiled around the tube C, and, beginning at a portion surrounding the block A, extend to nearly the outer end of the said tube G. The inner ends of the springs are secured in place by bending and passing them through openings in the roll and block. The longitudinal edges of the roll constituting the tube are notconnected, but left free, as shown at b, Fig. 6, and said tube is filled with a packing of strips or pieces, C', of material preferably of leather. An Op ening, F, is madeV longitudinally in the block A, and extends diagonally therethrough for the reception of a fuse, G, or said opening extends onlyT partly through the block, and communicates with a non-conducting tube at or about the neck of the block. Wire or wires H from a suitable battery are .passed through sheathing, whichis introduced into the opening F and through the non conducting tube, as stated. The cartridge is tied or secured upon the neck of the block, the fuse or wires having been previously applied. J represents an irnplement which I term a rammer, and consists of a handled rod having a conical end, c, and a disk, d, at the base of the cone c. The conical end is forced into the center of the tube G, and the blasting apparatus introduced by the implement J into the bore or opening in the coal and rammed rmly against the extreme end of the bore. The rammer is now removed, and in lieu thereof I use a wedge, K, which consists of a conical or tapering point, .which is secured to or formed with a rod having a head, L. The point should be as long as the tube G, and is introduced into the tube C between the packing,V and driven to the block A by blows on the head L. As the wedge is forced into the tube, the latter is distended, and the springs E are dilated, as seen by dotted lines, Fig. 3. The blasting apparatus is. thus fastened in the bor@ and rendered there compact and rm and unremovable, unless the Wedge K is withdrawn.

Fire is now applied to the fuse, or an electric i current sent through the Wires, so that in either case the cartridge is reached and ignited. The explosion then occurring, the mass 0f Goal or other miner-a1 is broken or ,forced down, and the blasting apparatus remains ,inf

tact ready for continued or successive use, it requiring merely another cartridge and fuseT but the electric Wires are always in condition for subsequent operation. The position of the opening Fis such that the Wedge will in no wise interfere therewith.

I am aware that tamping-plugs, intended with a flexible cylinder, C, and elastic pacln`v ing C', substantially as described.

2. The elastic outer casing E, applied and operating` substantially as set forth, in con1- bination with an expansible tamping-plug.

DAVID SHOEMAKER.

Witnesses:

Guns. A. GEIssENHAINER, JOSEPH MARSHALL. 

